Cruise The Mediterranean

Succumb to the charms of EternalGreece during an 8-day cruise offered by PONANT. With Athens as the departure point, board Le Bougainville for an unforgettable sailing experience discovering exceptional islands and cities.

Your first port of call: Paros. Nestling in the heart of the Cyclades archipelago, this island reputed for its sublime white marble offers a real concentration of Greek beauty, from whitewashed houses to olive groves to ancient monuments.

A little further north, you will arrive on Mykonos, with its iconic windmills, beaches, countless churches and whitewashed houses.

Le Bougainville will then set sail for the Dodecanese archipelago. You will discover the medieval city of Rhodes, with its impressive walls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Lying between the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, Crete is the cradle of many myths, including that of the Minotaur. According to legend, this creature, half-man, half-bull, was the lovechild of Pasiphae, the wife of Minos, and a white bull.

Your cruise will conclude with the exploration of two of Greece’s major sites, from Napflio: the Mycenae ruins and the Epidaurus theatre, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Highlights

A cruise to discover the finest ancient sites of Greece, with a port of call in Crete.

Several UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Acropolis of Athens (embarkation and disembarkation port), the Meteora monasteries (from Volos), the medieval city of Rhodes, the Mycenae ruins and the Epidaurus theatre (from Napflio).

The possibility of visiting Athens, before or after your cruise.

A varied cruise, including lively cities, historic and cultural sites and beaches of unique charm.

LE BOUGAINVILLE

Featuring innovative and environmentally-friendly equipment, elegantly designed staterooms, spacious suites with large windows, and lounge areas that open onto the outside, this new limited-capacity yacht boasting just 92 staterooms and suites will offer you a truly unique cruising experience.

As the first ship in a new series that remains true to the Ponant spirit, Le Bougainville will embody the unique atmosphere that is the cruise line’s hallmark: a subtle blend of refinement, intimacy and comfort.

Aboard this ship that flies the French flag, you will experience the incomparable pleasure of an intimate cruise, with the possibility of exploring an ever-increasing range of destinations in an ethnic-chic ambiance with luxury service.

Experience a luxurious setting where the accent is on authenticity and passion for travel.

Port of call & excursions

Athens

The Greek capital city is located on the edge of the Saronic gulf, in the east of the country. It bears a plural name in reference to the first villages that surround the Acropolis. You will be enchanted by the rocky plateau presided by its monuments listed as UNESCO World Heritage. In the city below, you can visit some of the liveliest districts in Athens: Plaka, with its maze of colourful streets, and where, in the evenings the drifting aroma of moussaka and garlic prawns will tickle your taste buds. Don’t miss anything of the city’s cultural past. Pay a visit to the National Archaeological museum, or the Cycladic Art Museum.

23 April 2019 – Paros

Arrival 23/04/2019 at 08H30 . Departure 23/04/2019 at 15H00 .

Famous for its white marble, the island of Paros is located in the Cyclades. Along the quays of Parikia, its main town, you’ll see Byzantine churches and neoclassical buildings. To make the most of the turquoise waters, you can stop over in Naoussa. This little fishing port is bounded by a very beautiful cove and offers more than one café to sit and unwind.

24 April 2019 – Volos

Arrival 24/04/2019 at 07H45 . Departure 24/04/2019 at 18H30 .

Volos, one of the biggest port cities in Greece, is located at the foot of Mount Pelion. According to mythology, Mount Pelion was a place of celebration for gods and heroes, and the home of the centaurs. The beauty of the place and the magical atmosphere that reigns here can indeed only have been inspired by the gods: the clear water that flows from a multitude of sources bathes the plane trees, apple trees, oaks, beech trees, gardenias, camellias, and hydrangeas that thrive in the fertile soil of Thessaly. Do not miss your chance to visit picturesque villages in the hills, such as Makrinitsa and Portaria. They have remained intact over the centuries and visitors will enjoy discovering mansions with an architecture that is unique in Greece, as well as typical fountains and churches.

25 April 2019 – Mykonos

Arrival 25/04/2019 at 13H00 . Departure 25/04/2019 at 23H30 .

Nicknamed “little Venice”, Mykonos is famous for its Alefkandra district where houses are built right on the water’s edge. Their multi-coloured loggias are emblematic of this Cyclades island, as are the pelicans and windmills. You can get close up to the birds on the quaysides of the old port. Up on the hillside, you can see the windmill sails turning. In the cobbled streets of the pedestrian centre, bougainvillea bedeck immaculate facades. As you weave in and out of the little streets, snatches of coastline will undoubtedly call you to the island’s beaches, the quietest of which can be found on the northern coast.

26 April 2019 – Rhodes

Arrival 26/04/2019 at 13H30 . Departure 26/04/2019 at 20H00 .

With its particularly agreeable climate, the island of Rhodes invites you to walk its pathways and discover its immaculate villages and sumptuous medieval city, a UNESCO World Heritage site. At the centre of the island the mountains are covered in forest and on the western slopes we find vineyards and crops. Rhodes also owes much of its charm and its character to the Knights of St John who reigned over the island from 1310 to 1522 and built impressive defensive walls punctuated with majestic gateways. Do not miss this delightful island with its peaceful beaches, its large walkways and its lively nightlife, perpetuating the myth of the famous Colossus, the legendary statue that is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

27 April 2019 – Rethymno, Crete

Arrival 27/04/2019 at 12H30 . Departure 27/04/2019 at 23H00 .

Between the Sea of Crete and Libya, appears theisland of Crete with its unimaginable beauty. DiscoverRethymnon, home of Zeus, king of the Gods. With a huge fine sandy beach to the east and a rocky coastline to the west, this small town enchants visitors with its natural beauty and its fascinating history. The cradle of the Cretan Renaissance, a town of letters and intellectuals, from its rich past it has retained Venetian buildings from the 16th century, which cohabit harmoniously with the many minarets, testimony of the Turkish presence. Do not fail to admire its old Venetian port as well as its historical district offering a maze of narrow streets, before you head tothe famous site of Cnossos, birthplace of the Minotaur.

28 April 2019 – Nafplion

Arrival 28/04/2019 at 12H30 . Departure 28/04/2019 at 18H00 .

The engaging town of Nafplion is staggered up green hillsides of the Argolic Gulf, to the east of the Peloponnese. Don’t be surprised by its extremely varied cultural heritage. For instance, you’ll see the ancient agora on the plateau of Akronafplia, Italianate arcades in Syntagma square as well as the baroque fortress of Palamidi on a hillside of the same name. At the top of the hill, views of the gulf and the surrounding mountains are simply awesome. If you want to chill out by the water’s edge, walk along the Arvanitia promenade to a beautiful creek in the shade of cedars and cypresses.

Athens

Disembarkation 29/04/2019 at 07H00 .

The Greek capital city is located on the edge of the Saronic gulf, in the east of the country. It bears a plural name in reference to the first villages that surround the Acropolis. You will be enchanted by the rocky plateau presided by its monuments listed as UNESCO World Heritage. In the city below, you can visit some of the liveliest districts in Athens: Plaka, with its maze of colourful streets, and where, in the evenings the drifting aroma of moussaka and garlic prawns will tickle your taste buds. Don’t miss anything of the city’s cultural past. Pay a visit to the National Archaeological museum, or the Cycladic Art Museum.

Formalities

The information below is current but subject to change at any time without advance notice from government authorities. Please consult your respective government agencies for visa and health information.

Warning about the use of drones: the use of drones aboard PONANT ships, whether they are sailing at sea, at a port of call or anchored, is strictly forbidden. The use of drones on land in the Arctic and Antarctic regions is also strictly forbidden by international polar regulations. In other regions, it may be possible to use drones on land if permission has been obtained from the relevant authorities of each country and each region travelled through, as well as a pilot’s licence that should be obtained from your home country. Passengers are responsible for obtaining these permits; they should be able to present them at all times. Passengers who do not obtain these authorisations expose themselves to the risk of legal proceedings.

Passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the completion of your trip. Passport must contain at least two completely clear, blank, unused visa pages for each visa required, not including any amendment pages. Visa pages with stains or ink from other pages in the passport are not usable. Guests who deviate from the scheduled embarkation or disembarkation port should research the foreign entry requirements for the port country. Due to government regulations, regrettably, PONANT will have to deny boarding to any guest who fails to obtain the appropriate travel documentation for this trip.

Pre/Post & Overlands

After your cruise

Athens, the Byzantine & Christian Museum and Plaka
29/04/2019

Travel with peace of mind as PONANT organizes your transfer between your port of disembarkation and the airport.

Athens

After disembarkation procedures are completed, you will depart the port of Piraeus by coach for an exploration of one of the oldest city in Europe, Athens.

You will enjoy a panoramic sightseeing tour of the city. You will make your first stop at the Panathenaic Stadium, a 19th-century reconstruction on Roman foundations, in which the first modern Olympic Games took place. This stadium is also known as the Kallimármaro which means “the beautiful marbled”, because it is the only major stadium in the world built entirely of white marble. It was also restored to host some competitions during the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

Your next visit will be at the Byzantine Museum & Christian Museum, one of Greece’s national museums. Its areas of competences are centred on – but not limited to – religious artefacts of the Early Christian, Byzantine, Medieval, post-Byzantine and later periods which it exhibits, but also acquires, receives, preserves, conserves, records, documents, researches, studies, publishes and raises awareness of. The museum has over 25,000 artefacts in its possession. The artefacts date from between the 3rd and 20th century AD, and their provenance encompasses the entire Greek world, as well as regions in which Hellenism flourished. The sizr and range of the collections and value of the exhibits makes the museum a veritable treasury of Byzantine and post-Byzantine art and culture.

At the end of the morning, you will be taken to the Plaka Old District located at the bottom of the Acropolis, in the historic heart of Athens. You will have some free time (about 45 minutes) to explore on foot Plaka’s pedestrian shopping streets where you will find jewellery stores, souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants.

You will then be transferred to Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”. It is approx. a one-hour transfer.

Your programme includes:

Transfers, visits and entrance fees as mentioned in the programme.

Services of a local English-speaking guide.

Your programme does not include:

Lunch.

Tips for the driver and local guide.

Personal expenses and other services not mentioned in the programme.

Duration of the visits are given as a guide only. The order of the visits may be reversed. For the times of your PONANT flight, please contact your travel advisor; they are also shown on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.

Before your cruise

Panoramic Tour of Athens before being transferred to the Port of Piraeus
22/04/2019

Travel with peace of mind as PONANT organizes your transfer between the airport and your port of embarkation.

Athens

Meet at Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” - Arrival Hall. Look for PONANT sign. You will be greeted by our local representative off the flight selected by PONANT.

You will depart the airport by coach for a scenic tour of Athens en route to the port of Piraeus. When you will reach Athens, you will make your first stop at the Panathenaic Stadium, a 19th-century reconstruction on Roman foundations, in which the first modern Olympic Games took place. This stadium is also known as the Kallimármaro which means “the beautiful marbled” because it is the only major stadium in the world built entirely of white marble. It was also restored to host some competitions during the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. You will make a photo stop at the bottom of the Acropolis Hill with its spectacular view of the Parthenon before being transferred to the port of Piraeus where you will embark on board your ship.

Your programme includes:

Transfer by air-conditioned coach

Services of a local English-speaking guide

Your programme does not include:

Tips for the driver and local guide

Personal expenses

Other services not mentioned in the programme

Note

Optional photo stops depending on embarkation time and traffic conditions.

Discover Athens (1 night)
21/04/2019

Enhance your cruise and extend your trip with a carefully designed programme.

Day 1 – Athens

Meet and greet at the airport arrival hall. Look for PONANT sign.

You will be greeted by our local English-speaking representative and directly transferred to the King Georges hotel.

On the way to your hotel, you will enjoy a scenic drive passing by the Panathenaic Stadium, a 19th-century reconstruction on Roman foundations, in which the first modern Olympic Games took place. You will then pass by some of the most important sites of the city including the Hellenic Parliament, the Constitution Square and the Monument of the Unknown Soldier. You will make a photo stop at the bottom of the Acropolis Hill with its spectacular view of the Parthenon before being transferred to your hotel .

Check-in in your room

The rest of the afternoon is at leisure.

Dinner on your own.

Day 2 – Athens

For those visiting Athens for the first time, this is an excellent introduction to one of the great cities of the ancient world.

After breakfast, you will depart for the Acropolis, a symbol of the glory of ancient Greece, where you will climb its smooth marble steps as visitors have for centuries. History opens before you as you reach one of the masterpieces of classical architecture, the Propylae, which serves as the entrance to the complex. See the Temple of Athena Nike, or Wingless Victory, and the Erechtheum with its classical Porch of Maidens, the Caryatids. Stand in awe of what is considered to be the most perfect example of classical architecture in the world, the Pantheon designed as a shrine to Athena and at one time housing a massive gold and ivory statue of the warrior goddess. Looking down from the Acropolis see the two ancient theaters in its shadow – the Greek theatre of Dionysus where the masterpieces of Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripide and Aristophanes debuted to delighted audiences, and the gran Roman theater of Herod Atticus, restored and used for concerts and classical plays during the summer Athens Festival.

Your next stop will be the New Acropolis Museum which is an archaeological museum focused on the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens. The museum was built in order to house every artifact found on the rock and on its feet, covering a large period of time, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece. The museum was founded in 2003 while the organisation of the Museum was established in 2000. Finally, it opened to public on June 21, 2009. Nearly 4,000 objects are exhibited over an area of 14,000 square meters;

Following your visit to the Acropolis museum, you will enjoy a tasteful Greek lunch at a local restaurant in Acropolis area. You will then have some time to stroll around the colorful nearby street of Plaka, before being transferred to the port to embark your ship.

Your hotel:

Dating back to 1930, King George Hotel is a luxury 5-star hotel. It is located close to Syntagma Square in the city centre, within walking distance from the wonders of Athens, as the Parliament House or the Acropolis.

Attention: the prices listed at the time of your reservation can be different from those listed in the brochure. These prices can evolve based on availability and the real time rates of the airline companies selected.

Travellers are advised to check all the information with the authorities concerned prior to the departure date. Ponant advises Travellers to consult the country factsheets relating to the chosen destinations. Ponant specifically draws Travellers' attention to the fact that the information provided may change up until the departure date, and they are advised to consult that information up until the time of departure. CDP invites Travellers to adjust their behavior to the visited country, to exercise vigilance and to avoid carrying valuable objects during their travel.